Tuesday, July 11, 2006

German Newspaper Puts Photo Boycott On Robbie Williams Concert

A note from Michael Hirschler/German Association of Journalists (DJV), responsible amongst others for the freelance journalists and photojournalists of this association:

On July 11th, 2006, the newspaper Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten did not publish
a photo of the Robbie Williams concert held in Dresden on July 10th, 2006,
but left an empty spot next to an article dealing with the concert.
It also added a statement:

"On this place we wanted to print a picture
of the Robbie Williams´concert. But we had to refuse to do so. The singer´s
management wanted to constrain the photopraphers´ work by an adhesion
contract which is unacceptable to us. The local chapter of the German Association of Journalist
in Saxony called the restrictions a "flagrant example of an immoral contract" and appealed for a photo boycott. The
Dresdner Neue Nachrichten follows to this appeal and will only publish a review in the edition of
July 12, 2006."

The contract which is given to photographers rules that all photographs
are property of Robbie Williams and almost all copyright and authors
rights are conceded to him, so there is practically not much use left.
Robbie Williams demands also that photographs may only be taken during
the first three songs. The contracts also rules that the law of England
and Wales will be applicable, and makes the photographers responsible
for any use of the photographers for purposes which are contravening
the contract.

German newspapers also boycotted a concert by Bon Jovi in Stuttgart
on May, 28, 2006. Bon Jovi´s management demanded the signature of a
contract under the law of the state of Califormia and the concession of
copyright to Bon Jovi.

It will be interesting to learn how other german newspapers will act in the next weeks. Robbie Williams´concert in Dresden was only the first in a series of concerts taking place in Germany this summer. Berlin, Munich and Cologne are some of the next locations of his journey. Robbie Williams´ german tour ends in mid-August.

Comments

A note from Michael Hirschler/German Association of Journalists (DJV), responsible amongst others for the freelance journalists and photojournalists of this association:

On July 11th, 2006, the newspaper Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten did not publish
a photo of the Robbie Williams concert held in Dresden on July 10th, 2006,
but left an empty spot next to an article dealing with the concert.
It also added a statement:

"On this place we wanted to print a picture
of the Robbie Williams´concert. But we had to refuse to do so. The singer´s
management wanted to constrain the photopraphers´ work by an adhesion
contract which is unacceptable to us. The local chapter of the German Association of Journalist
in Saxony called the restrictions a "flagrant example of an immoral contract" and appealed for a photo boycott. The
Dresdner Neue Nachrichten follows to this appeal and will only publish a review in the edition of
July 12, 2006."